subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sun, Jul 20 2008 

Published: May 09, 2008 01:45 pm    print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

In time of trouble, cling to Christ | FERN YARNICK

BY FERN YARNICK

FYARNICK@YAHOO.COM

“ ... and on this rock I will build my church ...

Matthew 16:17

One of the worst floods recorded in American history happened in May 1889 in Johnstown.

Many accounts of sadness, heartache and bravery have been told and retold through the years following the flood.

After the floodwaters receded, descriptions of the dead were distributed among the survivors hoping that the bodies could be identified.

One of my ancestors received the following:

“Child about three years, small pock above right eye (in eyebrow), well-trimmed bangs. Only clothing was gauze knit undershirt, short sleeves. A piece of a house found floating on the same spot had a street board marked Front Street.”

Front Street was near the railroad tracks in Conemaugh.

When the South Fork Dam broke, it ravaged the countryside and then headed down the valley toward Conemaugh.

The flood devastated everything in its path and very little escaped the huge wall of water.

One account described it as “an avalanche composed of more than 100,000 tons of rocks, locomotives, freight cars, car trucks, iron, trees and other material pushed forward by 16,000,000 tons of water at the rate of a mile a minute.”

As the mass of destruction moved toward Johnstown, one of the buildings in its path was the Methodist Church.

The wall of water slammed into the church with terrific force.

However, the building stood strong while the water split into two directions.

A man standing in the window of a house nearby cried out, “We have been saved by the Methodist Church!”

He was wrong.

He was saved by the solid foundation.

The church withstood the flood, but time, age and the elements will someday crumble the building.

However, that foundation will last forever, for it is the solid rock of Christ.

Floods of disappointment, illness and heartache can cloud horizons at times, yet when our faith clings to that solid rock, we can hold on and hold out.

print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.



monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Premium Jobs


FINANCIAL SERVICES
REPRESENTATIVE/
FINANCIAL SERVICES
MetLife seeks responsible person with business/ sal
...>MORE


Penn Cambria School District
Is now accepting applications for:
l Part-Time Certified Athletic Trainer
fo
...>MORE


BASE SERVICE
UNIT DIRECTOR
Growing Indiana, PA community mental health provider is seeking director of its adm
...>MORE


Controller/CFO
Fleetwood Folding Trailers, a recreational vehicle manufacturer based in Somerset PA, is looking for
...>MORE


INSTRUCTORS IN EDUCATION
(Part-Time)
Penn State Altoona is seeking two part-time Instructors to teach in the E
...>MORE


CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Youth Workers enjoy the rewards of a meaningful career working with court-referred teenage boys.
...>MORE


MACHINISTS
Penn Machine Company - Johnstown
We are a growing company in need of Machinists. Positions require
...>MORE


Your Best Summer Experience Ever...
Idlewild and SoakZone
Join Our TEAM!
Full and Part-Time Seasonal P
...>MORE


DON’T WAIT!
CALL US TODAY FOR A GREAT OPPORTUNITY!
We have immediate openings for
Customer Service/Sale
...>MORE


PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
Full time Physical Therapist needed for long term care setting at Epworth Manor in Tyrone. Par
...>MORE

See all ads

Garage/Yard Sales


WINDBER GARAGE SALE
8-3 Sat. 7/19, Sun. 7/20. 2507 Graham Ave. Crib, baby items & clothes, toys, DVD’s, books, hh
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Homes

See all ads

Don't Miss This!


1979 MGB - British racing green, Weber carburetor, overdrive, runs. Needs work. Parked Nov. ‘06 due to deployment - goin...>MORE


UPPER YODER MULTI-FAMILY YARD SALE
8 am-1 pm, July 20, 2008. 3056 Menoher Blvd. Toys, Household, Clothing, Books, E
...>MORE

See all ads


click here click here click here click here click here click here click here click here click here click here click here click here click here click here click here click here

 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

rc